bagworm
noun
bag·worm
ˈbag-ˌwərm 
: any of a family (Psychidae) of moths with wingless females and plant-feeding larvae that live in a silk case covered with plant debris
especially
: one (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) often destructive to deciduous and evergreen trees of the eastern U.S.
Examples of bagworm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Now is the time to get ahead of the swarms by controlling bagworms, aphids, whiteflies, stinkbugs, and Japanese beetles.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 June 2025
If the bags remain on the plant, new bagworms will hatch out and resume the feeding their parents started.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2024
More immediately, cast an eye on your needled evergreens for a more pernicious and furtive insect named the bagworm.
—Washington Post, 7 July 2021
But to entomologists, the delicate homes of the bagworm are a marvel.
—Jennifer Walter, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2019
Not quite — what may look like a meticulous assortment of twigs is actually the home of a bagworm moth.
—Jennifer Walter, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2019
When treating plants, do so early in the bagworm’s development, because older larvae aren’t as vulnerable to Bt and different pesticides may be needed.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 2 June 2022
Unfortunately, evergreen areas killed by bagworms do not regrow.
—Ellen Nibali, baltimoresun.com, 4 Sep. 2019
The ideal time to spray for bagworm control is the first and second week of June with Malathion.
—Dick Crum, Indianapolis Star, 11 Aug. 2017
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Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 June 2025
If the bags remain on the plant, new bagworms will hatch out and resume the feeding their parents started.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2024
More immediately, cast an eye on your needled evergreens for a more pernicious and furtive insect named the bagworm.
—Washington Post, 7 July 2021
But to entomologists, the delicate homes of the bagworm are a marvel.
—Jennifer Walter, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2019
Not quite — what may look like a meticulous assortment of twigs is actually the home of a bagworm moth.
—Jennifer Walter, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2019
When treating plants, do so early in the bagworm’s development, because older larvae aren’t as vulnerable to Bt and different pesticides may be needed.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 2 June 2022
Unfortunately, evergreen areas killed by bagworms do not regrow.
—Ellen Nibali, baltimoresun.com, 4 Sep. 2019
The ideal time to spray for bagworm control is the first and second week of June with Malathion.
—Dick Crum, Indianapolis Star, 11 Aug. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Bagworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bagworm. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bagworm
noun
bag·worm
ˈbag-ˌwərm
: a moth that as a larva lives in a silk case covered with plant debris and is often destructive to the leaves of plants
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